I've left several messages to Dr. L. in Maryland to get an appointment. Her office hasn't called me back. Are LLMD's that busy that they cannot return phone calls? Just wondering.
I need to be on abx. This started in August. I decided to go back to my PCP. This time I was armed and dangerous with facts, printouts from the links on this site, and numerous other articles regarding Lyme disease. I did this for the neurologist when I saw him in September, and he shook his head and said that it wasn't Lyme. Plus, he looked at me and treated me like I was a "dumb" blonde. That was not going to happen again.
Eventhough my Quest Western Blot said I was negative according to CDC standards, I was positive on bands 39 & 41. I showed my PCP studies from doctors who claim that one positive band is significant and that in their clinical studies, there is a high probability that the person has borrelias.
I had a printout of the Lyme disease symptoms, in which I highlighted all that I have had or still have.
I told my PCP that I've done extensive research on Lyme - spending at least 3 hrs. a night, every night for weeks, compiling information and data from the internet. I'm a research buff (I have a science background)and I'm a sponge for information.
The PCP actually listened to me. YES!!! She said that it was good that I was pursuing this further because doctors do not know everything and are constantly learning. I thought that was a fair and honest assessment.
She prescribed doxy for me and referred me to a specialist - not a LLMD, but a rheumatologist who deals with Lyme patients. At least I'm on abx for now until I get an appointment with Dr. L. (if her office calls me back). I probably will see the rheumatologist, too, just to see what he will say.
I will continue to study Lyme, spirochetes, the similarities between Lyme and syphillis, comparisons on Western Blot testing for Aids and Lyme, etc., etc., etc.
I say this often and will say it again: Knowledge is power!
Thanks Lymenet
Cinder Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
How much doxycycline did she prescribe for you?
Posted by Cinder Binder (Member # 8225) on :
Not what a LLMD would prescribe. Unfortunately, she would only prescribe the "standard" - 100 mg, 2X a day for 3 weeks. It's a start, though.
Cinder Posted by elle (Member # 7721) on :
She is my LLMD. She is very good. You may want to call early in the morning. That is the best time to get a live voice on the phone.
Between the patient load, holiday and the move into a larger office (same building - down stairs) the support staff is very busy. I wouldn't leave messages hoping they would call back with an appointment unless I was already an established patient.
On the doc side . . . Dr. L and her assistant are calm, take their time and are not rushed.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
Yes, that amount of doxy is a start. (200 mg/day)
Interestingly, in my case, I was started out at that amount. I tend to herx at day 10-12 after starting a significant amount of an antibiotic. I did not herx at that amount.
11 days after upping the dose to 300 mg/day, I had a bad herx for 3 days....
Now, I feel much better...
Posted by JillF (Member # 5553) on :
Dr L and her assistant are training a new receptionist and nurse practioner in addition to all that is going on.
They are so busy that they have had to start seeing new patients on Saturdays.
I would call until you get someone on the phone. They have had a huge influx of new patients. I believe Dr S might even be sending his patients her way. I know when I was trying to get in to see Dr S, they refered Dr L to me. I ended up transfering to Dr L later on.
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